Introduction The mental health model proposed by Morgan et.al , hypothesized that success in competitive sports has a close relationship with mental health. Most of the studies on mental health in China have been conducted using the symptom evaluation scale (SCL—90) which is insufficient to explain mental health status of ordinary people. Problems exist in its structure validity, norm reference and result explanation. This study, investigated the present situation of mental health and social support of elite athletes and the correlation between these factors. The data , focused on the individual differences and discussed the impact of the effect of demographic statistic variable and social support on sport mental fatigue. Findings from this study can be used as references to conduct mental health education, which might have a positive effect on mental health and the ultimate success for athletes. Methods Participants were 100 elite athletes. Three scales were used to collect data: Mental Fatigue Scale, Social Support Review Scale and Perceived Social Support Scale which are conducted by professional researchers, SPSS 10.0 was used for reliability test, single sample T test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression. The coefficients for the three scales were high and the questionnaires have good reliability. Results 1. Seven factors relating to the mental health of elite athletes are fairly distinctive for classification purposes. Apart from suspicion and unrealistic factors, compared with national adolescents, five factors have significant differences. 2. The mental health conditions of elite athletes with different genders and education level show significant differences. 3. Significant differences exist for the conditions of social support for elite athletes of different events, sport levels and housing regions. 4. Apart from the positive correlation with excited factor, social support factors have negative correlation with others and the correlation coefficients of most factors reach the significant level; subjective support and perceived family support are parts of mental health total equation and t— test is significant. Conclusions 1. Mental health symptoms of elite athletes are fairly distinctive, which is a worrying problem. 2. Mental health of elite athletes has individual difference and the emphases shall be put on the excitement factor of male athletes and the depression problems with vocational degree. 3. Individual differences exist in the social support status, and it is advisable especially for coaches and athlete management personnel to place the same emphasis on those athletes on such components as initial skill levels particularly when athletes have moved from rural areas. 4. Social support is an important outside stimulus for the excited state, especially support from families and subjective support.
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